Workers who attended the May Day celebration in Nadowli saw it as a big blessing to them as many of them underwent blood pressure check ups free of charge.
The Nadowli Health Directorate provided free medical check-ups at the district assembly hall after the workers had spent more than two
hours to tidy the surroundings of the Nadowli District Hospital.
Those whose blood pressures were abnormal were advised to see a medical doctor for further examination.
The workers later matched through some principal streets and converged at the district assembly grounds where the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaque Salia, addressed them.
Alhaji Salia urged the leadership and the rank and file of organised labour to continue to pursue the path of dialogue in resolving labour issues.
He said the government would continue to seek the welfare of workers at all times and expressed regret at the unfortunate misunderstanding with labour regarding the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
“It is important to underline the fact that this government will never seek to make workers worse-off under the SSSS. Indeed it is in
our interest as a government to ensure that the SSSS is implemented in the best way that will satisfy all of us”, Alhaji Salia said.
He said it was however important for workers to appreciate that the implementation of SSSS policy required the provision of adequate
resources, diligence and patience on the part of all actors so that the right things were done.
Alhaji Salia appealed to all those who had come on board and were dissatisfied with the policy as well as those who were yet to
come on board to exercise patience and give the government the time and space to implement the SSSS smoothly.
He called on employers to provide protective clothing, inputs and incentives to workers to encourage them to give out their best.
“Recent reports on certain industrial accidents in Tema are quite worrying and employers need to take a critical look at making
work places safer and exciting”, he said.
Alhaji Salia appealed to workers to resolve to work harder than before to achieve higher productivity to build a strong economy at would benefit all.
Mr. Adams Sandu, Upper West Regional Secretary of TUC, read the Secretary-General’s speech and said workers were working under hash
conditions.
He reminded the government that job creations occupied a place in the NDC manifesto and yet nothing concrete was on the ground for job
creation.
About 17 workers who distinguished themselves in union activities at workplaces were honoured with refrigerators and television sets.